Aparigraha the Humane Solution

Author(s): Kamla Jain
Publisher: Parshwanath Vidyapith

Page 83

APARIGRAHA - THE HUMANE SOLUTION
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*caturguru' and the like!. Harsher and harsher punishments are given as the objects become costlier and costlier. It is interesting to note that the punishment depends on the material or economic worth of the object that has been kept in transgression of the established code and not on the intensity of attachment to the object. For example, if a monk accepts an object costing Rs.50,000/- he is awarded anăvasthāpya punishment and for accepting an object of the cost of Rs.1,00,000/- the punishment awarded is pārâncika.? Even for the use of requisites etc. proper rules were framed and violations of these rules, i.e., using the requisites negligently or without permission from the order are also understood as transgressions of the vow." Niśītha Sūtra and its bhāsya deal in detail with these violations and transgressions. The vow of the householder (aņuvrata)
The householder's vow of aparigraha is referred to by various terms some of which have already been mentioned earlier. These are: aparigrahāņuvrata (the smaller vow of non-possession) parigrahaparimāņa-vrata (the vow of limiting one's possessions) sthūla parigraha viramaņavrata (abstinence from major kind of possessions), and icchaparimāņa-vrata(vow limiting of desires). These terms help in giving us a clear picture of a householder's vow which is of great interest in the present study. In fact, out of the twelve vows of the householder many of them are somehow related to icchā-parimāņa. These are, third, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, tenth and twelth vows. However, icchā-parimāņavrata (limitation of desires) is the most appropriate term since it depicts the true essence of the vow which is the savior of the future of man. This term emphasises the controlling of desires themselves and not merely our physical possessions. This contains the true meaning of the vow. ‘Possessions' and 'the desire to possess' are interrelated, that is why in the detailed account of this precept for the householder, limitations of his wordly possessions are categorised into five classes. These are 1. Jaina Monastic Jurisprudence - S.B. Deo P.77. 2. Brhatkalpa Bhāşya -4 -3893-98. 3. Jaina Monastic Jurisprudence - S. B. Deo, P. 75. 4. Upāsakadaśānga Sūtra 1, 17-20;